Marinetek Pontoons to Be Part of Europe’s Largest Urban Development Project
Marinetek Adriatic will manufacture pontoons for Agios Kosmas Marina as part of The Ellinikon, a landmark development that is transforming the Athens Riviera.
The signing of the contract with LAMDA Development S.A. , one of Greece’s largest business groups, took place on October 14th in the presence of Marinetek Group CEO Karri Kaitue, Marinetek’s Special Consultant in Greece, Mr. Theofanis Karagiannis, and Marinetek Adriatic Managing Director Boris Miškić. Representing LAMDA Development at the signing were Senior Development Director Theodoros Iakovidis, Senior Contracts Manager Antoins Katsanevas, and Project Manager Angelos Mongolias.
The Ellinikon is Europe’s largest urban regeneration project, with an estimated total investment of approximately 8 billion euros. The site of Athens’ former international airport is being transformed into a vibrant new waterfront district, featuring residential areas, hotels, parks, and a wide range of facilities that will give the Athens Riviera an entirely new identity.
As part of this transformation, 38 Marinetek Premier series pontoons will be used to create six new piers, each 4 meters wide.
In addition to the marina, the development will feature a shopping mall, high-rise towers, and luxury residences, creating a new destination that will play an important role in the growth of tourism in Greece and further enhance the appeal of the Athens Riviera.
For our team, being part of a project of this scale and significance is a particular source of pride. Behind every pontoon are people whose knowledge, dedication, and experience make our work possible. This contract is a meaningful recognition of everyone who contributes to the quality of what we do, day after day.
The contract signing took place in a warm and positive atmosphere, with both parties expressing their satisfaction and enthusiasm for the cooperation ahead.
Delivery of the first batch of pontoon elements, which will form the piers along the main promenade, is scheduled for February, with all works expected to be completed before the start of the new season.
We look forward to seeing our pontoons take their place in Agios Kosmas Marina and become part of this remarkable development.
Marinetek renews its leadership
Santeri Suoranta steps down as Managing Director and CEO. Jukka Tukia steps down as Chief Financial Officer and Henri Markus steps down as Technical Director.
Karri Kaitue, Chairman of the Board, assumes the role of Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Valtteri Vauramo, continues to serve as a Managing Director of Central and Northern Europe (CNE), and in addition assumes a new role as Chief Commercial and Technical Officer. Antton Boman assumes the role of Chief Financial Officer.
“I would like to thank Santeri, Jukka and Henri for their leadership and contributions, and I welcome Valtteri and Antton in their new roles. I look forward to excellent collaboration with the new management team, and I wish all the success for Santeri, Jukka and Henri in their future endeavours” says Karri Kaitue, Executive Chairman and CEO.
Karri Kaitue, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Marinetek Group
Marinetek Finland Has Started the Renovation and Expansion of the NJK Valkosaari Marina
NJK chose Marinetek Finland and Cedercreutz Architects to assist with the design of the marina. Marinetek Finland was chosen to manufacture and deliver the new marina structures. Marinetek's long-term partner Suomen Vesityö is responsible for the installation and anchoring of the pontoons.
Valkosaari Marina and pavilion are an important part of the maritime landscape of southern Helsinki. It has more than a hundred years of history as the marina for the NJK, and the club itself was founded as early as 1861.
The development of the Valkosaari Marina emphasizes the importance of preserving the valuable cultural environment that has formed over time. Large and small sailing and motor boats have been a part of Valkosaari and the harbor environment of Helsinki for almost 150 years. The new marina is designed so that the wave attenuating pontoons on the outer perimeter protect the boats in the marina from waves. The curved breakwater design blends beautifully into their surroundings.
The marina’s floating pontoons are manufactured at Marinetek's Vantaa factory and consist of sturdy, 4-meter-wide breakwater pontoons and 3- and 4-meter-wide heavy-duty concrete pontoons. Marinetek’s 8–12 m long steel mooring fingers are used for mooring the boats. The project also includes renovation and reorganization of the existing piers.
The capacity of the new marina, which will be built in stages, will be 200–250 berths, while the current harbor offers berths for only 70 boats. With the expansion, the number of berths for club members and guests will increase considerably.
Renovation of the marina has already started by dismantling the old piers and the installation of new piers is currently underway. The installation work continues until the sea freezes and continues immediately after ice melts in the spring. The first phase of the new marina, which is being implemented now, will be completed in the spring of 2025.
EXTENSIVE MARINA EXTENTION TO INKOO, FINLAND
Marinetek Finland has completed the delivery and installation of a large marina extension in Inkoo, Finland. The massive marina has now over 800 protected marina berths and the project is the largest marina project in Finland that has been completed in one phase.
The new marina consists of three main docks, the middle one of which is T-shaped with the top of the T protecting the marina basin from waves. In addition, a separate floating Breakwater pontoon unit was installed to give additional protection to the marina.
The extension of almost 500 berths consists close to 1.1 kilometers (1200 yards) of pontoons, the longest continuous dock being 200 meters (220 yards) long.
Built with the Marinetek’s massive Premier, Super Yacht and Breakwater concrete pontoons, the docks offer stabile access to the boats and secure mooring.
The berths have boat booms and walk-on fingers depending on the boat size, with side mooring options reserved for the larger vessels. The docks are equipped with power, water and light pedestals and modern safety stations.
The Inkoo marina is conveniently located in less than an hour’s drive west from the capitol city Helsinki and offers easy access to the vast archipelago on the south coast of Finland. In addition to the private berths, the marina also has 80 berths available for visitors and some rental berths.
Marinetek Factory Switches to LED Lights
Out with the old and in with the new!
As a part of Marinetek’s sustainability strategy, we switched the lights at the Marinetek concrete pontoon factory in Finland to LED lights which will reduce the electricity consumption.
The new LED lights use 65% less energy than the old lights. In a large production hall with a high ceiling and dozens of powerful lights, this has a major effect on the total use of energy at the factory.
The new lights also create a brighter, more consistent lighting into the production facility than the old lights, improving the working conditions.
The old lights were recycled according to regulations.
Marinetek’s environmental strategy aims for sustainability and the reduction of the carbon footprint and use of energy throughout the value chain without sacrificing product quality.
Appointments to the Marinetek Management Team
Marinetek is strengthening its position in the home markets according to the strategy – and at the same time expanding its global presence by investing in key people and positions in the Group to speed up the process and to serve a broader customer base.
“Marinetek is on a growth path and to further accelerate the growth and strategy execution, we have reorganizations and new appointments to the Marinetek Management Team”, says Santeri Suoranta, CEO of Marinetek Group.
“Marinetek is already the global leader in concrete pontoon technology and premium marina design, and with our extensive organization around the world we have room to grow both in the home and selected new markets. These new appointments will strengthen Marinetek in the home markets, increase Marinetek’s engineering power and support the growth strategy.”
To support the growth strategy Marinetek has appointed following new members to its Management Team.
Valtteri Vauramo appointed Managing Director of Marinetek Finland
Valtteri Vauramo has been appointed as Managing Director of Marinetek Finland. He started in the position on October 1st, 2023.
In his new position as the Managing Director, Valtteri replaces Markku Rantanen. Markku is one of the two founders Marinetek and has been with the company for almost 30 years. Markku continues to work at Marinetek Finland as a Director, focusing his time on marina projects and sales for the domestic market in Finland as well as large scale export projects.
”I’m happy to take the helm at Marinetek Finland as the company is in great shape, thanks to Markku’s excellent work. I’m also happy to continue working with Markku”, says Vauramo.
Valtteri is very experienced marina industry specialist. He has worked with Marinetek in various roles before for over ten years, most recently as the Director for Central and Northern Europe. He has also worked for over a decade in the marina construction industry in the Middle East and Australia.
Jukka Tukia appointed CFO of Marinetek Group
Jukka Tukia has been appointed as CFO of Marinetek Group and member of the Group’s Management Team. He started in his position on September 25th, 2023. Tukia joins Marinetek from Niemi Palvelut Oy, where he worked as CFO.
Jukka holds a M.Sc. (Economics) degree from the Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration, Finland. Jukka has extensive knowledge over wide range of industries. He has 10 years of M&A consulting experience from KPMG and Ernst & Young (EY) and over 12 years of CFO, HR Director and Business Controller experience from service, retail, logistics and construction industries in Finland.
“I am happy to have Jukka on board. He has extensive experience from M&A transactions, developing business control and structured processes. Advancing our financial processes and tools is key for us to improve manoeuvrability and steering of our operations,” says Santeri Suoranta, CEO of Marinetek Group.
“I am delighted to join Marinetek that is a true global leader in the marina industry and has strong presence across all the continents of operation. Marinetek’s track record of building reliable high-performance marinas and developing the pontoon technology is excellent. I’m looking forward to working in the project business environment and being part of Marinetek’s growth,” says Tukia.
Jussi Boman appointed Engineering Director of Marinetek Group
Jussi Boman has been appointed as Engineering Director of Marinetek Group and member of the Group’s Management Team. He started in this position on September 11th, 2023.
Jussi holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and is an experienced product designer. Jussi is not a new face at Marinetek: before his past two years at Metso, where he worked as Engineering Manager. Jussi has worked for almost a decade at Marinetek in various engineering roles, including leading the engineering team.
“I’ve been designing marinas, pontoons and accessories for most of my career, and they are very familiar to me. The past two years at Metso working on processing technology were very interesting and educational. I’m confident that the experience can be beneficial at Marinetek as well”, says Boman.
In his role as Engineering Director, Jussi follows Henri Markus who has been appointed Technical Director of Marinetek Group.